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OU legend Steve Davis killed in plane crash

Two people, including a University of Oklahoma football legend, were killed when their private jet crashed into a South Bend neighborhood Sunday afternoon, officials say.

According to the medical examiner, Steve Davis, 60, of Tulsa and Wesley Caves, 58, of Tulsa were killed when the Beechcraft Premier I twin jet plane they were in crashed. Davis was a former University of Oklahoma quarterback.

Jean Barrett of Tulsa, remembers Davis as a passionate man who loved life. The last time he saw Davis was Sunday leaving church with a smile on his face, Barrett said.

Barrett said he became friends with Davis in the 1970s. They both attended First Baptist in Tulsa.

Barrett said he flew in the exact same plane earlier this month while picking up Bill Courtney to speak at a luncheon in Tulsa.

Barrett said Davis was a close friend of Wes Caves, the plane's owner and pilot. Barrett said Caves would often invite Davis along on business trips because Davis was an experienced pilot who loved to fly.

Barrett said it's likely that Davis was serving as co-pilot on the flight, but it's highly unlikely he was the pilot.

Davis was not involved in business with Caves, but Davis was involved in real estate development in the Tulsa area, according to Barrett. He said Davis' latest project was a medical building that was still in the concept phase.

David lettered 1973-75, won the Big Eight title in 1973 and was part of OU's national championship teams in both 1974 and 1975.

Barry Switzer was his head coach. OU’s record those three years was 32-1-1.

Reports say the jet, which flew out of Tulsa's Riverside Airport, clipped one house, heavily damaged a second, and ended up inside a third house.

South Bend officials report four people were on board. Caves and Davis were killed and two others were injured. A person on the ground was also seriously injured.

The injured were rushed to South Bend Memorial Hospital. According to hospital staff, Jim Rodgers, 58 is in serious condition. Christopher Evans, 36, and Diana McKeown, 62, are in fair condition. KOCO Eyewitness News 5 is awaiting official confirmation from the Indiana coroner on the names of those killed in the crash.

The plane is believed to have had a mechanical failure, and tried to make several unsuccessful emergency landings.

The plane was registered to 7700 Enterprises of Mont. LLC in Helena, Mont. The company is owned by Wes Caves and does business as DigiCut Systems in Tulsa. It makes window film and paint overlay for automobiles.